Summary

  • Engaging melee combat in action-adventure games provides a sense of catharsis for players.
  • Fun and refreshing combat systems in games like Middle-Earth: Shadow of War keep fans entertained.
  • Games like Devil May Cry 5 offer cinematic combat with rewarding combos that challenge players' skills.

Most action-adventure games feature some form of combat to keep fans engaged. Getting up close and personal with enemies is a great way for players to enjoy a sense of catharsis as they rip them to shreds.

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8 Best Non-Violent Action-Adventure Games, Ranked

These action-adventure titles are not only fun but also don't feature excessive violence for those who prefer a more relaxing time.

The best action-adventure games know how to keep fans entertained with some fun melee combat that's a blast to engage with. Exploring a beautiful world and dealing with its enemies in style keeps these games fun and refreshing throughout their run.

8 Middle-earth: Shadow Of War

The Visceral Combat Provides An Interesting Take On The Arkham Melee Formula

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War
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Released
October 10, 2017
Developer(s)
Monolith
Platform(s)
PS4, Xbox One, PC
OpenCritic Rating
Strong

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor was a welcome surprise that let players enjoy one of the best video game adaptations of The Lord of the Rings. While the monetization in its sequel didn't sit right with many, Shadow of War excelled in other departments.

Combat was a slight improvement from its predecessor, giving players more skills to mess around with. Killing multiple enemies with Celebrimbor's wraith powers and using Talion's swordplay to take out multiple enemies with ease is a huge part of what makes this game such a blast to play through.

7 Marvel's Spider-Man 2

The Best Combat To Ever Feature In A Spider-Man Game

Marvel's Spider-Man 2
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Released
October 20, 2023
Developer(s)
Insomniac Games
Platform(s)
PlayStation 5, PC
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

Spider-Man is one of the most popular IPs around, and it was puzzling that this hero hadn't received the video game it deserved to let players properly step into his shoes. This was finally achieved with Marvel's Spider-Man, which showed just how well Insomniac understood this superhero.

The sequel pushed the needle even further, letting players control two Spider-Men in the expanded city of New York and make the most of its enhanced combat system. Utilizing a combination of gadgets and abilities to take out enemies in style is something that fans can't get enough of.

6 Sleeping Dogs

The Satisfying Hand-To-Hand Combat Is A Treat To Mess Around With Every Single Time

Sleeping Dogs
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Released
August 14, 2012
Developer(s)
United Front Games

Wei Shen's adventures in Sleeping Dogs are perfect for fans of Hong Kong action flicks. Hijacking vehicles by jumping onto them and enjoying the atmosphere of the game's open world is something that players will have a great time with.

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PS2 introduced gamers to a variety of unique and memorable games, leaving a lot of them with nostalgia to this day.

However, the crowning jewel of Sleeping Dogs is undoubtedly its cathartic hand-to-hand combat system. Players will love taking out multiple enemies with a mix of regular attacks and grapple moves that will leave them incapacitated in no time.

5 Ghost Of Tsushima

Jin's Skills With A Sword Coupled With Multiple Stances Makes Combat Engaging Every Single Time

Ghost of Tsushima
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Released
July 17, 2020
Developer(s)
Sucker Punch
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

Ghost of Tsushima wowed everyone with its pretty open world and a great combat system that let Jin access various styles to defeat his opponents. As players unlocked more options to utilize in combat, they were eventually able to take out the toughest foes around without breaking a sweat.

Combining Jin's samurai skills with his equipment let players take out enemies in style as they were left terrified by the Ghost. The amazing duels in this game push players to the limit as they strive to land powerful combos against these tough foes while trying to avoid any unnecessary damage.

4 Devil May Cry 5

The Cinematic Combat Is Full Of Amazing Combos That Rewards A Player's Skills

Devil May Cry 5
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Released
March 8, 2019
Developer(s)
Capcom
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

Devil May Cry 5 arrived with a bang and left fans impressed with Capcom's best take on this combat system by a country mile. In the hands of a skilled player, the gameplay can look like an action movie as players land numerous combos against a litany of challenging foes.

It's easy to be frustrated after enemy attacks hit the player numerous times, but this hurdle can be surpassed soon enough with some practice. Players who enjoy playing Devil May Cry 5 will love challenging themselves at higher difficulties, with the game's toughest bosses being an achievement to conquer when death awaits the player at any given moment.

3 Batman: Arkham Knight

The Most Hard-Hitting Version Of Arkham's Combat That Can Be Very Over-The-Top At Times

Batman: Arkham Knight
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Released
June 23, 2015
Developer(s)
Rocksteady Studios
Platform(s)
PS4, Xbox One, PC
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

Arkham Knight was a great sendoff for Rocksteady's Batman games, letting Bruce Wayne end his superhero activities with a bang. It helped that the combat in this game was more cinematic and engaging than ever before.

The Caped Crusader is a blast to control in battle as he leaps unbelievable distances to punch his foes into submissions. Some takedowns may seem a bit too over-the-top at times, but that's a small complaint in the grand scheme of things.

2 God Of War Ragnarok

Kratos' Suite Of Weapons Gives Him Numerous Options To Choose From In Battle

God of War Ragnarok
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Released
November 9, 2022
Developer(s)
Santa Monica Studio
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

With Ragnarok, the new God of War combat was pushed further than ever before. Any unbalanced attacks were taken care of while Kratos got more options to enjoy in combat, and it helped that the game incentivized players to try out all their new moves multiple times in combat to master them.

This allowed players to obliterate their opponents in style if they knew what they were doing. All three weapons enhance Kratos' style and ensure that he can utilize a wealth of powerful combos and Runic Attacks to come out victorious at the end of every grueling encounter.

1 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

The Intense, Fast-Paced Combat Is Arguably The Very Best It's Ever Been In A FromSoftware Action Game

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
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Released
March 22, 2019
Developer(s)
From Software
Platform(s)
PS4, PC, Xbox One
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

Out of all the action-adventure games FromSoftware has developed, many people agree that Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice features one of their best and most fast-paced combat systems. Players love taking out their foes in style as they parry attacks and land Deathblows to put an end to any conflict.

The game's high difficulty can make it harder for players to get into the action at times, but it takes no time for players to master the deflection mechanic and build up an enemy's stagger meter in no time. There's nothing more satisfying than deflecting multiple attacks in quick succession before eventually landing the killing blow, rewarding a player's tenacity and skill in particularly grueling encounters.

Roguelike Games With The Best Melee Combat, Ranked
8 Roguelike Games With The Best Melee Combat, Ranked

These roguelike games feature some of the best melee combat styles the genre has to offer.